Converting Short Center Shaft Putter to Long Putter

I want to experiment with a long putter in the off-season this year. Would like to keep the cost down, but still put together something that could stay in the bag. I have used a [Rife 2 Bar CS Mallet](http:// "Rife 2 Bar CS Mallet") and absolutely loved the look and feel, and I think it would work great as a long putter. There are a few available on eBay for a very reasonable price. I would like to change the shaft and bend it more upright as well as putting a 2 piece grip on it.

The shaft looks like it could be difficult to remove, but I don't have experience with reshafting putters. Just wondering if something like this would be possible and how you would go about doing it.

Thanks.

You biggest problem will be the lie angle. Standard putter lie is about 72º and for a long putter you need about 80º. With that head you either need to bend the shaft or pull it out and re-drill the hole (filling it first and you will need some serious tools for this - welder and drill press).

My advice would be to look for a long putter. As stated you need approx 79* lie angle and a head weight of about 400-500 grams.

It's cheaper just buying an old broomstick and trying out at least that's what I'm going to do :)

Funny this came up---- After about 10 years I have started back with my old broomstick---- The anchor part was never an issue because I did not anchor anyhow. LOL drug it out of the storage building last week and the grip was rotted. Changed out the grip (S) and put it into play yesterday. I have been having a lot of 3 putts especially in the last 6 months. Never had one yesterday. Not a good but not a bad ball striking day but for me no 3 putts.

OP--- Billy Bobs Golf and Hireko used to sell the converter bushing to get a conventional putter to broomstick angle do not know if they still do or not. My putter is an old Ping B-90 that was built from the factory to be a broomstick. If you can find those bushings then you may be in the ballpark. As far as weight that is what lead tape is for. Another word to caution if you convert a putter. Sometimes stock shafts with added length and weight will flex on you. You can buy the larger diameter thicker broomstick shafts from Maltby. Now if you are on a budget you can strengthen a stock shaft by cutting off an old shaft and use epoxy on the tip to mid end of the shaft and insert it down the stock shaft. I converted and built a lot of broomstick putters for folks back in the day doing these things I just told you

The Rife can be bent at the head. I did one a number of years ago. Don't pull the shaft. You can find extensions to make that putter a long putter. You just pull the grip and insert the extender and slide it to the length you want , tighten it, and then regrip. This way if the experiment does not work you just remove the extension and sell the putter as it was. You may need to add lead tape to the head, though I never did.

Thanks for the responses! I've tried a few long putters before and have found some to feel like the shaft is too soft. With the long shaft and a heavy putter head, I guess there can be some minor flex in the shaft. Would this be an issue if using a shaft extension? Does anybody know a good shaft that would prevent that?

Are there any long putter still on the market -- 47"-48" like McCarron or Langer use? Or are auction sites or the BST forum the only options?

I did not have any luck. My putting is terrible and I'm considering alternatives.

Dave

i think odyssey is currently offering one.